ANOTHER day, another journey through the emotional wringer for Blues and their supporters.

And a day for sad reflection that their most consistent defender – and one of their players-of-the-season – Liam Ridgewell will be out for at least six months after breaking his leg.

Ridgewell’s misfortune was part of an extraordinary chain of events at St Andrew’s kickstarted by rookie referee Michael Oliver when he sent-off Maik Taylor in the 23rd minute and awarded Plymouth a penalty, for a ‘foul’ outside the area.

Paul Gallagher lashed the spot-kick past Taylor’s deputy Colin Doyle and from then on it was another battle against the odds for Blues, a test of their nerve, heart, lungs and legs.

Franck Queudrue, as he often has, stepped forward and headed an equaliser for the 10-men shortly after the second-half got underway and, considering events elsewhere and the circumstances of the game, a point was welcome.

Had the boot been on the other foot, had Blues gone the same way as Sheffield United, who failed to break down Nottingham Forest after they had Kelvin Wilson sent-off in the 16th minute, then no, it would have been an opportunity squandered.

What the powers-that-be are doing appointing a 23-year-old, in his first season, to such a key game for both sides is anyone’s guess. Maybe they should have sent Stuart Attwell. Then again...

Bizarrely, Oliver requested the floodlights be switched on for the game because it was apparently ‘a bit dark’, even though the sun shone brightly down on the ground all the while.

What was sure was his decision to dismiss Taylor and award a penalty after a ball hoicked over the top for Jamie Mackie to chase needed no extra illumination for its ineptitude.

Taylor raced out to confront Mackie and went in for a tackle, careful not to use his hands, and got his thigh on the ball, knocking it back into Mackie, who then went sprawling.

It was not reckless, Taylor didn’t clean the striker out. And it happened just beyond the 18-yard line.

The linesman didn’t move, but Oliver was in no doubt and St Andrew’s froze in incredulity before erupting in anger, that barely subsided thereafter.

After Gallagher’s penalty, Blues soon lost Ridgewell when he was caught by Mackie’s block tackle as he cleared the ball downfield. The way his left leg jarred on the ground at impact, and then collapsed under him as he tried to hop to his feet, was sickening.

It wasn’t malicious by Mackie, moreover enthusiastic, but nonetheless warranted a yellow card. Nothing was forthcoming.

After several minutes’ care, Ridgewell was stretchered off to hospital and Queudrue replaced him at centre-half.

Blues slowly recovered from the shock and with Alex McLeish deciding to keep two strikers in a 4-3-2, it meant an onerous task for all.

But it was a task that Blues stuck at manfully.

Damien Johnson, Lee Bowyer and Sebastian Larsson were relentless, and the full-backs went into overdrive.

Plymouth argued the free-kick award that led to Blues 49th minute goal shouldn’t have been given because of a dive, but Cameron Jerome was upended by David Gray, who was booked.

Romain Larrieu came, flapped and missed David Murphy’s deep cross (more complaints, this time of being blocked) et voilà: Queudrue, sideways on, launched himself and connected with a header to put the ball into the unguarded goal.

It was if that relegation-threatened Plymouth were happy to take the point from then on, they didn’t go for it or make the numerical advantage count. Blues, with James McFadden coming on to replace Jerome, who took a knock, continued to believe.

They hassled, probed and Plymouth weren’t always entirely comfortable against their defiance.

And they got into the right positions and dealt with danger when it arose, showing a spirit and desire that could not be questioned, encapsulated by the pugnacity of Stephen Carr.

Blues began the game strongly, but were susceptible to two or three long balls over the top, down the channels.

Ashley Barnes was rightly flagged offside twice after following-up shots – in the sixth and 77th minutes – but that didn’t reflect they were in charge; not least against the 10 men.

Once Oliver made his erroneous decision, he set the game on an unexpected path that meant salvation was the prime requirement from Blues.